This rookery is located on the central coast of California,north of the village of San Simeon.

Descriptions in the brochure of the Friends of the Elephant Seal are helpful in the understanding of this phenon ..."the male grows to 5,000 pounds and 16 feet long.In the December through February mating season,males battle for breeding rights for up to 100 days without food or water...Females grow to 12 feet and 1,800 pounds.In an average of 34 days,the female loses 40% of her weight while she births,nurses,weans her pup and breeds before returnig to the sea...At birth, pups are 60-80 pounds and 3-4 feet long.Nursing pups gain 10-12 pounds a day;at 28 days,weaned pups weigh 250 -350 pounds"

The most recent images from January, 2015 are at the end of the gallery.